(For so they phrase 'em) by their heralds challeng'd The noble spirits to arms, they did perform

Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit,

That Bevis was believ'd.

Buck.

O, you go far.

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect
In honour honesty, the tract of ev'ry thing
Would by a good discourser lose some life,
Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal:
To the disposing of it naught rebell'd ;
Order gave each thing view; the office did
Distinctly his full function.

Buck.
Who did guide,
I mean who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, certes, that promises no element
In such a business.

Buck.

I pray you who, my lord?
Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion
Of the Right Reverend Cardinal of York.

40

50

Buck. The Devil speed him! no man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can, with his very bulk,
Take up the rays o' th' beneficial sun,

And keep it from the Earth.

Surely, sir,

Nor.
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon
For high feats done to th' crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants, but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that Heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the King.

Abergavenny.

I cannot tell

What Heaven hath given him: let some graver eye
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him: whence has he that?

If not from Hell, the Devil is a niggard;

Or has given all before, and he begins

A new Hell in himself.

York. Wolsey was created Archbishop of York in 1514 and Cardinal the following year. (R)

54 fierce, extravagant. (R) 55 keech, lump of fat. See Note on "Goodwife Keech," 2 Henry IV., II. i. 101. It had a triple application to Wolsey, as a corpulent man, a reputed butcher's son, and a bloated favorite. (w)

63 he. The folio has O, apparently a mistake for a, a dialectal

60

70

Buck.

Why the Devil,

Upon this French going-out, took he upon him
(Without the privity o' th' King) t' appoint

Who should attend on him? He makes up the file
Of all the gentry; for the most part such
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon : and his own letter
(The Honourable Board of Council out)
Must fetch him in he papers.

I do know

Aber.
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

Buck.

O, many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em
For this great journey. What did this vanity
But minister communication of

A most poor issue?

Nor.

The peace

Grievingly I think,

between the French and us not values

The cost that did conclude it.

Buck.

After the hideous storm that

73 going-out, expedition. (R) 75 file, list. (R)

80 Must fetch him in he papers, i. e. [according to Pope's explanation,] Wolsey's own letter, without regard to the Council, must fetch in him whom he [Wolsey] puts upon the paper papers being a verb. But there may be corruption.

84 laying manors, spending the proceeds of estates. (R)

86 minister communication. Holinshed almost uses these

Every man, follow'd, was

80

90

words and elaborates: "He knew not for what cause so much monie should be spent about the sight of a vaine talke to be had, and communication to be ministred of things of no importance." -iii. 855. (R)

90 hideous storm. This expression and the substance of ll. 90-94 were also found in Holinshed: "On Mondaie, the eighteenth of June, was such an hideous storme of wind and weather, that manie coniectured it did prognosticate

A thing inspir'd; and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy, -that this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded

The sudden breach on 't.

Nor.

Which is budded out;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd
Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber.

Th' Ambassador is silenc'd?

Nor.

Is it therefore

Marry, is 't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd

At a superfluous rate.

Buck.

Why, all this business

Our Reverend Cardinal carried.

you

Nor.
Like it your Grace,
The State takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the Cardinal. I advise you
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards
Honour and plenteous safety) that you read
The Cardinal's malice and his potency
Together to consider farther that
What his high hatred would effect wants not
A minister in his power. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and, I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and 't may be said,
It reaches far; and where 't will not extend,

trouble and hatred shortlie after
to follow betweene princes "- iii.
860. (R)

91 not consulting, spontaneously.

93 aboded, foreboded. (R) 95-6 An occurrence of two years later, March 22, 1522. (R) 95 flaw'd, broken. (R) 97 Th' Ambassador is silenc'd.

100

110

The French ambassador was commanded to keep his house and not come in presence till he was sent for. Holinshed for 1522. (R)

98 A proper title, &c. A fine thing to call a peace! (R)

100 carried, managed. Like it, may it please. (R)

CARDINAL WOLSEY AND THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

From the painting by Sir J. D. Linton

HENRY VIII, Act I, Sc. i